Thursday, January 23, 2014

Empowered!

For Week 1 of our Online Bible Study on "Made to Crave," our word of the week is #empowered.  Just saying the word to myself makes me feel stronger!  The Google definition of "empowered" is as follows: "Give (someone) the authority or power to do something; make (someone) stronger and more confident, especially in controlling their life and claiming their rights."  I LOVE this definition!  God is the only one who can always help us feel stronger and more confident, and who gives us power over the things in our lives that seem to have control over us (including our thoughts and choices).  He is the one who empowers us, if we make the choice to seek Him.

For this blog post, I recorded a couple of times throughout this week that I have remembered the word of the week, and how it affected me.

Monday morning - started a new job.  I felt so many emotions: fear and anxiety of the unknown, mixed with excitement for a new beginning and hope for a fulfilling career.  The training that morning was overwhelming, and I was beginning to feel completely unsure of myself and my abilities.  Even though all my new co-workers were friendly, I really missed my previous co-workers, who had become my best friends and confidants.  I doubted I had made the right decision to change jobs.

Over lunch, I went and prayed and poured my heart out to God over a cup of coffee (Starbucks can help everything, right? :)  He reminded me that through him, I am EMPOWERED.  Alone, I WILL feel insecure, fearful, and anxious; but with Him I can get through anything!  He also reminded me that He has great plans for my life and directs my paths (Jeremiah 29:11, Proverbs 3:6), and He led me to this new position.  Thanking Him for this reminder and for His comfort, I went back to work and had a much better afternoon.  It was still overwhelming at times, but everything went well and I enjoyed my time!

Tuesday morning - nine degrees outside.  My cat was snuggled up tight, and I did not want to get up and go for my run before work.  I remembered that God has given me good health, and that I need to maintain that and take care of this earthly body He has given me (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).  He empowers me and gives me the strength to get up and face the cold, and this helped me get up and go run!

I pray you feel #empowered by God often!  Seek Him and you will find Him and His strength!  God bless :)


5 comments:

  1. I need to remember that when I don't want to get up & run.... I'm empowered... use it!

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  2. Jeremiah 29:11 is my favorite verse!!
    He has empowered you to succeed in this new job!!

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  3. I really love you perspective on exercising, I've never really thought of it that way: "I remembered that God has given me good health, and that I need to maintain that and take care of this earthly body He has given me (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). He empowers me and gives me the strength to get up and face the cold, and this helped me get up and go run!" That's a pretty awesome way of looking at something you just don't want to do...God gives us the power to overcome anything, it's up to us to just do it!
    By the way, I used to be a Chiropractic and Dental Assistant myself, how funny! Have an EMPOWERING week!

    Megan (OBS Group 53)

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    1. That is funny!!! You don't see that combo too often! :) It's amazing how much both professions parallel each other though!!! :)

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  4. Awesome, practical descriptions of how you felt #Empowered by God in your every day activities. You really pointed toward how we can see God work in our lives, no matter the importance of the task at hand. Every decision takes us closer to, or farther away, from God. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us.
    Sandi Brewer, OBS Small Group Leader

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